Search
  • Videos
  • Windows 10
  • 5G
  • Best VPNs
  • Cloud
  • Security
  • AI
  • more
    • TR Premium
    • Working from Home
    • Innovation
    • Best Web Hosting
    • ZDNet Recommends
    • Tonya Hall Show
    • Executive Guides
    • ZDNet Academy
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
  • Newsletters
  • All Writers
    • Preferences
    • Community
    • Newsletters
    • Log Out
  • Menu
    • Videos
    • Windows 10
    • 5G
    • Best VPNs
    • Cloud
    • Security
    • AI
    • TR Premium
    • Working from Home
    • Innovation
    • Best Web Hosting
    • ZDNet Recommends
    • Tonya Hall Show
    • Executive Guides
    • ZDNet Academy
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
      • Preferences
      • Community
      • Newsletters
      • Log Out
  • us
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • India
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    • ZDNet around the globe:
    • ZDNet France
    • ZDNet Germany
    • ZDNet Korea
    • ZDNet Japan

The beginner's guide to Pinterest and learning

7 of 11 NEXT PREV
  • 6358563.png

    While Pinterest may be seen as being a female-focused social networking site full of cupcake pictures, and Instagram-altered pouting girls, some educators have demonstrated concern that the site, due to its lack of monitoring, may bookmark images deemed inappropriate -- which results in restricting Pinterest from use in class.

    Perhaps in the future there will be a way to localize Pinterest for educational use -- but in the meantime, properly supervised and with the right age group, these digital noticeboards can be a valuable resource for learning.

    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

  • 6358564.png

    Pinterest, the latest addition to hybrid forms of social networking, hosts a platform where users can 'pin' their favourite images to share with the world.

    At first glance, such a service may not seem to have much academic value -- but teachers around the world are utilizing Pinterest to make lessons more interactive. Not only can it be used to share ideas and lesson resources, but the notice-board styled platform allows for better organisation of ideas and images than other sites generally support, such as Facebook or Twitter.

    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

  • 6358565.png

    First of all, Pinterest is a social networking site based on bookmarking images, similar to the blog-roll site Tumblr but on a more organised and structured platform, and focused purely on visual content.

    The concept is simple: Once a user joins the site, they can create 'boards' with image and descriptions linked to content around the web. According to comScore, Pinterest is the fastest social media platform to break the ten million unique visitors mark -- perhaps due to its visual appeal. In addition to sharing pictures, you can pin video and discussion groups.

    Every item you 'pin' becomes a digital bookmark that can be used to access the original content. Links can be shared by other users deciding to re-pin the link on another board -- which also shows up on the visitor's profile.

    If you decide to create themed boards that others find interesting, you may end up with followers -- in the same manner as Twitter. These users will be notified when new pins are added, and you can subscribe to others in return to see their updates on your front page news feed.

    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

  • 6358567.png

    Pinterest is still invitation-only, but if you want to set up a profile, it doesn't take long once you've registered to receive it through an email address -- it was only six hours for me.

    Once you've logged in with an email address and password, you'll see the latest pins from those on your 'following' list -- by default, you'll have ten. Through the setup process, you will be prompted to find others, if you wish, that may interest you.

    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

  • 6358568.png

    If you want to find people you know, go to your name and click on the arrow.

    A drop-down menu will appear, and you can click on "Find Friends" to conduct a search.

    A user can follow boards instead of people if they wish -- so if one particular board interests you, such as "Technology for Children", then you can subscribe to updates on this board only.

    • In order to follow a person, click on their name, and "Follow all".
    • To chose a particular board, click on the board title, and then select the large red 'Follow' button in the centre.
    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

  • 6358569.png

    When you first sign up, Pinterest leads you through a process of creating boards for you, or you can create your own.

    Highlight your name in the top-right corner, and use the drop-down menu to select "Boards" to edit any existing boards, or to rearrange them.

    To add a new board, use the top menu to select "Add +", and the following options appear: Add a Pin, Upload a Pin, Create a board.

    Once you have found an image, article or video you want to pin that is already hosted on Pinterest, hover over it and the "Repin" option appears.

    Once you click this, a menu will appear, allowing you to select the correct board you wish to deposit the pin in. If you want, you can also write a short description of the item.

    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

  • 6358571.png

    There are some websites that now include a "Pin It" button, but most currently do not.

    Instead, you can add a "Pin It" option to your bookmarks bar on your Internet browser. 

    Hover over the "About" option in the right-had corner of Pinterest. Once you select the second option, "Pin It Button", you will be taken to a "Goodies" page.

    By selecting the white button in the middle, it can be dragged to your bookmarks bar. Then, if you find an image you want to pin, you simply have to click the button for the link to be saved, and for you to be taken to a board and description selection page.

    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

  • 6358585.png

    Searching for themes

    As a visual resource, Pinterest can be used to search for pins or boards concerning a particular theme -- such as 'China' or 'the ocean' quickly. The images you find and repin will have a linked source, so you can find additional information about the content from these links.

    Anything you search for can be divided between individual pins, people, or boards.

    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

  • 6358586.png

    As a former teacher, I think the potential this kind of platform has for learning lies within its application to project-based learning.

    By being able to organise web sources, folders and files via themed boards, collaboration among students can become easier and more interactive. Not only this, but finding the source of such items is as easy as clicking on the pin -- which can save time for the teacher if they wish to double-check an entry.

    When boards are categorised, teachers and students can create them based on unit, subject, or project theme.

    If you do use the platform for projects, remind your students about online etiquette -- copy and pasting an entire work or article is a demonstration of poor manners, or could result in accusations of copyright infringement.

    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

  • 6358587.png

    The core focus of Pinterest is to share content and ideas. Not to be confused with a content aggregator, the bookmarking facility can be used to exchange and resources pertaining to particular subjects. 

    In order to share content and ideas, not only can it be used to pin resources or themed content for lessons, but there are several examples of classrooms using the site to create their own class pinboards -- hosting events and images personal to each student. Businesses are also slowly beginning to see the value of these visual boards -- and I predict product placement and marketing will surge in the next few years.

    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

  • 6358588.png

    In the same way that copying and pasting images or articles is at the least considered bad manners -- at the most, copyright infringement -- Pinterest is a linking service and not a host. 

    If you are linking to work, including the source and no more than either the title or a small excerpt from an article. 

    Pinterest's etiquette rules state:

    Pins are the most useful when they have links back to the original source. If you notice that a pin is not sourced correctly, leave a comment so the original pinner can update the source. Finding the original source is always preferable to a secondary source such as Image Search or a blog entry.

    We do not allow nudity, hateful content, or content that encourages people to hurt themselves. If you find content that violates our Terms of Service or Acceptable Use Policy you can submit the content for review by pushing the ”Report Content“ link.

    Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

    Caption by: Charlie Osborne

7 of 11 NEXT PREV
Charlie Osborne

By Charlie Osborne | April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT) | Topic: Enterprise Software

  • 6358563.png
  • 6358564.png
  • 6358565.png
  • 6358567.png
  • 6358568.png
  • 6358569.png
  • 6358571.png
  • 6358585.png
  • 6358586.png
  • 6358587.png
  • 6358588.png

Is there more to Pinterest than cupcakes and pouting girls?

Read More Read Less

There are some websites that now include a "Pin It" button, but most currently do not.

Instead, you can add a "Pin It" option to your bookmarks bar on your Internet browser. 

Hover over the "About" option in the right-had corner of Pinterest. Once you select the second option, "Pin It Button", you will be taken to a "Goodies" page.

By selecting the white button in the middle, it can be dragged to your bookmarks bar. Then, if you find an image you want to pin, you simply have to click the button for the link to be saved, and for you to be taken to a board and description selection page.

Published: April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT)

Caption by: Charlie Osborne

7 of 11 NEXT PREV

Related Topics:

Cloud Big Data Analytics Innovation Tech and Work Collaboration Developer
Charlie Osborne

By Charlie Osborne | April 19, 2012 -- 00:48 GMT (17:48 PDT) | Topic: Enterprise Software

Show Comments
LOG IN TO COMMENT
  • My Profile
  • Log Out
| Community Guidelines

Join Discussion

Add Your Comment
Add Your Comment

Related Galleries

  • 1 of 3
  • Linux turns 29: The biggest events in its history so far

    A year by year summary of the most significant events in Linux's history to date.

  • Parallels Toolbox 4 for Windows and Mac

    New features include Break Time, Unit Convertor, and Enhanced Search.

  • How to perform a clean install of Windows 10: Here's a step-by-step checklist

    A clean install is the perfect way to get a fresh start with a Windows PC. Use this checklist to make sure you take care of the small details that make a big difference in productivity ...

  • Linux survival guide: These 21 applications let you move easily between Linux and Windows

    If you need to navigate regularly between Linux and the Windows world, there are many applications that can make your job easier. We spotlight 21 quality applications that will pave ...

  • 2019's tech, security, and authentication trends

    We take a look at the top tech, cybersecurity, and authentication trends as revealed today by the Duo Security's 2019 Trusted Access Report, which includes data from 24 million devices, ...

  • Awesome Google Chrome extensions (May 2019 edition)

    Get more done in Google Chrome, with this selection of hand-picked extensions from the Chrome Web Store. These free extensions allow you to do a variety of things, from taking screenshots ...

  • Give Google Chrome a speed boost

    Here are a handful of tricks to help you speed up your browser and make it use up fewer precious system resources. (Updated April 2019)

ZDNet
Connect with us

© 2021 ZDNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Privacy Policy | Cookie Settings | Advertise | Terms of Use

  • Topics
  • Galleries
  • Videos
  • Sponsored Narratives
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About ZDNet
  • Meet The Team
  • All Authors
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Reprint Policy
  • Manage | Log Out
  • Join | Log In
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Site Assistance
  • ZDNet Academy
  • TechRepublic Forums